New Mexico Leaders Introduce Bill to Ban Uranium Mining in Chama Watershed
New Mexico's congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, along with U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, have introduced the Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act. This legislation aims to prohibit all forms of uranium mining in the Chama Basin Watershed, which spans much of Rio Arriba County, including the Santa Fe and Carson national forests. The bill is a response to a proposal by Gamma Resources, Ltd., a Canadian company, which seeks to conduct exploratory drilling in the area. The lawmakers and various community groups have expressed concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts of uranium mining, particularly on the watershed and the Chama River, which flows into the Rio Grande. The bill emphasizes the need to address the legacy of abandoned uranium mines in New Mexico before allowing new mining activities. 
